Police said Monday they arrested a father on suspicion of murdering his son in Ramla, after a case initially investigated as a suspected suicide developed into a murder probe.
According to police, Aharon Saadia, 54, is suspected of shooting his son, Shimon Saadia, 25, to death about a month and a half ago. Shimon, a resident of Ramla in his 20s, was found dead in his room at his parents’ home with a gunshot wound to the head.
(Photo: Shaul Golan)
The case was first investigated as a suspected suicide, but police later said suspicion grew during a covert investigation that the death may have been a murder. Saadia was arrested early Monday morning after forensic findings from the scene and evidence gathered during the covert probe led investigators to shift the case into an open investigation.
On the day Shimon was found dead, investigators had an initial, limited suspicion that the case might not be a suicide. His father was summoned for questioning and gave an open statement before being released. A source involved in the investigation said the scene “did not fit the suicide theory.”
According to the source, the father claimed his son’s room had been locked from the inside when police arrived.
The crime exposure unit of the Shephelah District Police took over the case and continued investigating covertly after the father returned home following his initial statement. Based on forensic test results and findings from the undercover investigation, police decided early Monday to arrest him.
Saadia denies the allegations against him. He is represented by attorneys Yaniv Tal and Miri Haretz.
Police said that “in accordance with the needs and findings of the investigation,” the suspect was brought before a court, which accepted the police request and extended his remand until July 7.
“The investigation is ongoing,” police said.